Electric signaling mechanism for elevators.



H. A. HUMPHREY. ELECTRIC SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLiGATION FILED MAY 81, 1910.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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H. A. HUMPHREY. ELEGTRIG SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1910. 1,129,292. Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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H. A. HUMPHREY. ELECTRIC SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 31, 1910.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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INVENTOR. a. 4 BY W 07m ATTORNEY.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTG-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, O. c.

H. A. HUMPHREY. ELECTRIC SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1910.

1,129,292. Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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H. A. HUMPHREY. ELECTRIC SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 31, 1910.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. I-IUlVIPl-IREY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 SAFETY ELEVATOR LOCK AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING- MEOI-IANISM FOR ELEVATORS.

Application filed May 31, 1910.

To all whom it may C07t6'67'7t Be it known that I, HENRY A. HUMPHREY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Signaling Mechanisms for Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric signaling mechanisms for elevators.

My invention relates particularly to the type of mechanisms in which are employed car and floor signals, floor switches, and commutators for controlling the circuits in which the signals are located. In such types of signaling mechanisms a plurality of brushes are usually employed in each commutator for controlling the circuits containing the car and floor signals respectively.

One object of my invention is to provide a mechanism in which a single brush will control the circuits connected with the commutator.

A. further object of my invention is to provide a structure which is simple in construction, efficient in operation, and which is not liable to short circuiting or to get out of order.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction in which the operator on the car may render the floor and car signals temporarily inoperative in case the car is loaded and it is not desirable to stop for passengers.

My invention provides still further a novel form of switch board or circuit controller by which the floor switches or push buttons may cause the signal circuits to be closed and the commutator may cause the said circuits to be opened when the car reaches the floors at which the floor switches have been operated.

Other novel features are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the acccmpanying drawings which illustrate my invention Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the commutator mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of what is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, enlarged, taken on the dotted line cb of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the dotted line ccl of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, taken on the dotted line ef of Fig. 1. Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Feb. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 564,267.

6 is a front elevation of the switch board. Fig. 7 is a vertical section, taken on the dotted line g7t of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section, taken on the dotted line z'-j of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the mechanism employed for reciprocating the commutator carrier synchronously with the elevator car. Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical, sectional, detail view ofthe commutator brush and parts connected therewith. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary top view of a portion of the elevator drum and parts connected therewith. Figs. 13 and 1 1 are perspective views of two of the commutator plates. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of a porticn of the mechanism employed to reciprocate the commutator carrier. Fig. 16 is an end elevation of what is shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a vertical section taken on the dotted line 7fiZ of Fig. 16.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar parts.

I will first describe the commutator.

1 denotes the vertical base of the commutator, which has secured to one vertical edge a vertical plate 2, on which is vertically slidably mounted a carrier 3 which has rigidly secured thereto a horizontal cylindrical bar 4, on which is pivotally mounted a horizontal sleeve 5, to which is secured one or more split clamping plates 6, having secured thereto the commutator brush, provided with an upwardly extending arm 7 and a downwardly extending arm 8. The forward side of the base 1 is provided with vertical grooves 9, in which are mounted contact plates upon which rub the arms 7 and 8 of the commutator brush.

1O denotes a stationary contact plate which is connected with the positive feed wire and serves to supply current to the other contact plates on the commutator board through the intermediacy of the commutator brush, the arms 7 and 8 of which bear against the contact plate 10 during both the upward and downward movement of the carrier 3. Contact plates 11, 12 and 13 are located in the groove 9, one above the other, and at the left of the contact plate 10, as viewed in Fig. 1. In the groove 9, at the right side of the said plate 10, are located contact plates 14, 15, and 16. These plates and the plates 11, 12 and 13 are in circuit with a signaling device, such as an incandescent lamp 17, shown in Fig. 9, and carried by a car 18, shown in dotted lines in said figure. In the groove 9, to the left of the plate 11, as shown in Fig. 1, are located two contact plates 19 and 20. In the groove to the left of the plate 19, are located two contact plates 21 and 22. Intermediate of the plates 21 and 22 is located a short contact plate 23. Intermediate of the plates 19 and 20 is located a short contact plate 24. Above the plate 21 is located a short contact plate 25.

In the groove to the right of the plate 14 are located two plates 26 and 27, and intermediate of said plates is located a contact plate 28. In the groove 9, to the right of the plate 26 are located two contact plates 29 and 30, between which is located a short contact plate 31. Below the contact plate 30 is located a short contact plate 32.

In moving upwardly, the commutator brush is disposed so as to have its arm 8 strike the contact plate 10 and all of the contact plates to the left thereof, as viewed in Fig. 1. hen the commutator brush is moved downwardly it is disposed so as to have its arm 7 strike the contact plate 10 and all of the contact plates to the right thereof, as viewed in Fig. 1.

For automatically shifting the commutator brush, whenever the carrier 3 reverses its direction of movement the following described mechanism is preferably provided: Secured to one side of the carrier 3, as shown in Fig. 3, is a horizontal bolt 33, to which is pivoted a forwardly and rearwardly extending lever 34, the rear end of which is adapted to strike the teeth of a vertical rack 35, secured to the forward side of the base 1. The forward bifurcated end of the lever 34- has projecting horizontally between its arms a pin 36, secured to a vertical plate 37, provided with two vertical slots 38, in which are mounted two horizontal pins 39, which are secured to the carrier 3. Secured to the sleeve 5 is a vertical plate 40, having secured to it above and below the sleeve 5 two horizontal pins 41 and 42, on which are respectively rotatively mounted two rollers 43 and 44, which are adapted alternately to strike a forwardly extending portion 45, on the front edge of the vertically slidable plate 37, when said plate is reciprocated. Two springs 46 and 47 are secured at one set of ends to the carrier 3, at opposite sides of the bolt 33, and bear at opposite sides of the bifurcated end of the lever 34, for the purpose of retracting the lever into operative position for engagement with the rack 35.

When the carrier 3 moves downwardly synchronously with the movement of the elevator car, the rear end of the lever 34, will strike the teeth of the rack 35, thereby swinging the forward end of the lever downwardly and sliding the plate 37 downwardly so that the projection 45 thereon will strike the roller 44, thus swinging the commutator brush through the intermediacy of the plate 40, sleeve 5, and clamping plates 6 so that the arm 7 of the brush will rest on the contact plate 10 and will be positioned to strike the contact plates to the right thereof, as viewed in Fig. 1.

IVhen the carrier 3 moves upwardly the lever 34, upon striking the teeth of the rack 35, will be forced to the position shown in Fig. 3 and will force the plate 37 to the position shown in said figure, thus causing the said plate to strike the roller 43 thereby shifting the commutator brush so that the arm 8 thereof will rest on the contact plate 10 and will be positioned to strike the contact plates to the left of plate 10, as viewed in Fig. 1.

Any suitable means may be employed for reciprocating the carrier 3 synchronously with the car 18. In Figs. 10, 12, 15, 16 and 17, I have shown a mechanism which may be employed for this purpose. Referring particularly to these figures, 48 denotes a hook secured to the carrier 3 and having secured to it one end of a cord 49, which passes upwardly to and over a roller 50, thence horizontally to and over a roller 51, thence downwardly to a horizontal drum 52, which is rotatively mounted on a hori zontal shaft 53, secured in the vertical framework 54. The drum 52 is secured at one end to a spur gear wheel 55, which is disposed concentrically with said drum, and meshes with a pinion 56, which is rigidly secured to a horizontal shaft 57 rotatively mounted in the frame 54, and having secured to it a friction disk 58 adapted to have a driving engagement with a friction disk 59, secured to a sprocket wheel 60, which is rotatively mounted on the shaft 57 A coil spring 61 encircles the shaft 57 and has one end bearing against the sprocket wheel 60 and the other end bearing against a washer 62. mounted on the adjacent screw threaded end of the shaft 57, on which are mounted two lock nuts 64, which bear against the outer side of the washer 62.

As shown in Fig. 10, the sprocket wheel 60 is connected by a sprocket chain 63 with a sprocket wheel 65, secured to the elevator drum shaft 66, on which is mounted the drum 67, to which the cable 68, which sup ports the car 18, is secured. The other end of the shaft 57 is also screw threaded and has mounted thereon two nuts 69 and 70, provided each with a projection 71, which extends toward the opposite nut. Lock nuts 72 and 73 are mounted on the shaft 57 for respectively securing the nuts 69 and in the positions to which they may be adjusted.

Intermediate of the nuts 69 and is a vertical plate 74, which is provided with a threaded hole fitted to the adjacent threaded portion of the shaft 57 From opposite sides of the plate 74 extend two projections and 76, adapted respectively to strike the projections 71 on the nuts 69 and 70. The upper and lower ends of the plate 74 are provided with vertical slots in which fit two horizontal arms 77 on the frame 54, and which serve to prevent the plate 74 from turning when the shaft 57 is rotated. When the elevator drum 67 is rotated so as to raise or lower the car, the drum 52 will be rotated through the intermediacy of the shaft 66, sprocket wheel 65, chain 63, sprocket wheel 60, friction disks 59 and 58, shaft 57 pinion 56, and gear wheel 55. The arrangement is such that when the drum 67 turns in a direction such that the cable 68 will lift the elevator car, the drum 52 will be rotated so as to wind thereon the cord 49, thus raising the carrier 3. The parts are so proportioned that the carrier 3 will move synchronously with the car to the proper positions relative to the contacts on the base 1. To compensate for slippage the nuts 69 and 70 and the plates 74 are provided. In case that the carrier 3 has reached the limit of its travel in the upward direction and the elevator car has not quite reached the limit of its travel, the projection 76 on the plate 74 will be against the projection 71 on the nut 70 and will thus hold the shaft 57 from rotating in a direction such that the drum 52 will wind thereon the cord 49. At such time the friction disk 59 will slip against the disk 58. As the car moves downward the plate 74 will be forced toward the nut 69 which is positioned so that when the carrier 3 reaches the limit of its downward travel the projection 71 on the nut 69 will strike the pro jection 75 on the plate 74, thereby holding the shaft 57 from continuing rotation in the same direction. At such time the friction disk 59 will slip on the disk 58 until the car reaches the full limit of its downward travel or reverses its direction of move ment.

All the contact plates on the base 1 are preferably vertically adjustable excepting the feed plate 10. Any suitable means may be employed for holding these plates in the positions to which they may be adjusted to correspond with the different heights of the different stories of the building in which the apparatus is installed. As shown in Fig. 14, each plate may be provided with a longitudinal slot 78, in which may project the head of a securing screw 79, which, as shown in Fig. 5, extends through the base 1, to which it is clamped by two nuts 80. The short contact plates may have a narrow longitudinal extension 81, as shown in Fig. 13, upon the upper side of which bears the head of one of the screws 79, which also extends through the base 1 to which it is secured by the clamping nuts 80. By loosening the screws 79 the contact plates may be vertically adjusted in the grooves 9.

I will now describe the switch board mechanism :-In Figs 6, 7 and 8 is illustrated a switch board mechanism suitable for a five story building, having a continuous elevator service, in which the car makes regular trips from the first to the fifth floor.

A, B, C, D, E and F denote six switches, all of which are alike, so that a description of one will suflice for each of the others and corresponding parts will be denoted by similar reference characters. I will describe the switch A:A horizontal bar of insulating material 82, has secured to opposite ends two magnetizable cores 83 and 84, which are respectively slid-ably mounted within helices 85 and 86 respectively. Said helices are preferably mounted upon a vertical base 87 of insulating material. Secured on the bar 82 are contacts 88, 89, 90, 91, 92 and 93. Secured to the base 87, above the bar 82, are contacts 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99. Secured to the base 87, below the bar 82, are contacts 100, 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105. The contact 88 is normally engaged with the contacts 94 and 100. The contacts 89, 90, 91, 92 and 98 are normally out of contact with but are adapted to respectively engage the contacts 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99, and the contacts 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 when the winding 85 is energized and draws into it the core 83. At such times the contact 88 is moved out of contact with the contacts 94 and 100. The windings 85 of the switches A, B, C, D, E and F are connected as hereinafter described, with fioor switches or push buttons, located on the second, third and fourth floors. For retracting the bars 82 in the opposite direction the cores 84 and windings 86 of the switches A, B, C, D, E and F are provided, said windings being connected, as hereinafter described, with contacts 25, 24, 23, 31, 28, and 32 respectively, of the commutator.

In Fig. 9 I have shown, diagrammatically, the circuits as arranged for a two-car elevator service. In this figure G and H, represent the two commutators, which are alike in construction and the corresponding parts of which are denoted by similar reference characters. 106 and 107 denote respectively the positive and negative feed wires which are respectively connected by conductors 108 and 109, with a generator 110. Two conductors 111 are respectively connected at one set of ends to two contact plates 112, of two switches respectively mounted upon the two cars 18. A movable contact plug 113 is normally in contact with the contact plate 112 and with the opposite contact plate 114 of each car switch. The two contact plates 114 are respectively connected to the two feed contact plates 10 by two conductors 115. Two conductors 116 respectively connect one set of terminals of the two lamps 17, with two conductors 117, which are connected to the negative feed wire 107 The other terminals of the lamp 17, are connected to two conductors 118 respectively. Conductors 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 and 126, respectively connect one set of terminals of floor signals 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, and 134 with conductors 117. Said floor signals are preferably incandescent lamps and have their opposite terminals connected respectively to conductors 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141 and 142 respectively. Conductors 135 are connected respectively to the two contact plates 19. The two conductors 136 are respectively connected to the contacts 103 and 102 of the switch A. The two conductors 138, are respectively connected to the contacts 103 and 102 of switch B. The two conductors 140 are respectively connected to the contacts 103 and 102 of switch C. The two conductors 137 are respectively connected to the contacts 103 and 102 of switch D. The two conductors 139 are respectively connected to the contacts 103 and 102 of switch E. The conductors 141 are respectively connected to contacts 103 and 102 of switch F. The other terminals or" the lamps 134 are respectively connected by conductors 142 with the contacts 27 of the two cominutators. A conductor 143 connects the two contacts 25. A conductor 144 connects the two contacts 23. A conductor 145 connects the two contacts 24. A conductor 146 connects the contacts 31. A conductor 147 connects the contacts 28. A conductor 148 connects the contacts 32. Two conductors 149 are respectively connected to the contacts 96 and 97 of switch A and to the contacts 21 of the commutators H and G. Two conductors 150 are respectively connected to the contact plates 20 and to the contacts 96 and 97, of switch B. Two conductors 151 are respectively connected to the contact plates 22, and to the contacts 96 and 97 of switch C. Conductors 152 are respectively connected to the contact plates 29 and to the contacts 96 and 97 of switch D. Two conductors 153 are respectively connected to the contact plates 26 and to the contacts 96 and 97 of switch E. Two conductors 154 are respectively connected to contact plates 30 and to contacts 96 and 97 of switch F. Two conductors 155 are respectively connected to contact plates 11 and to contacts 95 and 98. Two conductors 156 are respectively connected to contact plates 12, and to contacts 95 and 98 of switch B. Two conductors 157 are respectively connected to contact plates 13 and to contacts 95 and 98 of switch 0. Two conductors 158 are re spectively connected to contact plates 14 and to contacts 95 and 98 of switch D. Two conductors 159 are respectively connected to two contact plates 15 and to contacts 95 and 98 of switch E. Two conductors 160 are respectively connected to contact plates 16 and to contacts 95 and 98 of switch F. Conductors 161 are respectively connected to the contacts 99 and to the windings 86 of the switches A, B, C, D, E and F. Conductors 162 connect the contacts 94 with the windings 85 of the switches A, B, G, D, E and F respectively. Conductors 163, 164, 165, 166, 167 and 168 are respectively connected to the other terminals of the windings 86 and to the conductors 143, 145, 144, 146, 147 and 148. Conductors 169, respectively connect to the conductors 118 and to the contacts 101 and 104 of switch A. Conductors 170 are respectively connected to conductors 118 and to contacts 101 and 104 of switch B. Conductors 171 are respectively connected to conductors 118 and to contacts 101 and 104 of switch C. Conductors 172 are respectively connected to conductors 118 and to contacts 101 and 104 of switch D. Conductors 173 are respectively connected to conductors 118 and to contacts 101 and 104 of switch E. Conductors 174 are respectively connected to conductors 118 and to contacts 101 and 104 of switch F. Conductors 175 are respectively connected to contacts 105 of switches A, B, C, D, E, and F and to a conductor 176 which is connected to the feed conductor 107. Conductors 177 are respectively connected to contacts 100 of switches A, B, C, D, E, and F and with the conductor 176.

On the top and bottom floors are located respectively two floor switches or push buttons having each two stationary contacts 179 and 180 and a movable contact 181 adapted to simultaneously engage the two stationary contacts but which is normally disengaged therefrom. On each of the other floors of the building there are located two such floor switches, one for signaling down and the other for signaling up.

182 denote conductors which connect the contacts 180 with a conductor 183, which is connected to a contact 184 which is adapted to be engaged by a switch lever 185, which in turn is connected to a conductor 186. The conductor 186 is connected to one terminal 187 of a suitable signal, such as an electric bell, the other terminal of which, denoted by 188, is connected to a conductor 189, which in turn is connected to the conductor 17 6. The said electric bell which is denoted by 190 may. be located at any place where it will be heard by the car operators. The

contacts 179 of the floor switches on the which in turn is connected to the positive feed wire 106. Conductors 193, 194C, and 195 are respectively connected to the contacts 179 of the up fioor switches on the fourth, third and second floors and with the windings 85 of the switches 11, B and C. Conductors 196, 197 and 198 are respectively connected to the windings 85 of the switches D, E and F and to the contacts 179 of the down floor switches on the fourth, third and second floors. The movable contact 181 of the floor switches on the fourth, third and second floors are respectively connected to the conductor 192 by conductors 199.

In describing the operation of my invention, let it be assumed that one or both elevators are at the fifth floor, as shown in Fig. 9, and a person on the second fioor desiring to go down, has forced the movable contact 181 of the down fioor switch against the contacts 179 and 180 of said floor switch on that floor. If the switch lever 185 is in the closed position the current from the positive conductor 106 will pass by the conductor 192 to the conductor 199, which is connected to the movable contact 181 that is in the closed position shown in Fig. 9. The switch lever 185 being closed a portion of the current will pass from the depressed contact 181 to the negative feed wire 107, through the contact 180, adjacent conductor 182, conductor 183, contact 184:, switch lever 185, conductor 186, terminal 187, bell 190, terminal 188, and conductors 189 and 176. The bell 190 will thus be caused to be rung, thereby notifying the car operators that a passenger at one of the floors desires to get on a car. The car which first descends will be the one which will have its car signal 17 illuminated. Assuming that the car at the left, as viewed in Fig. 9, is the first to descend, then the floor light 133 adjacent to said car and the light 17 on the car will be illuminated through the intermediacy of the commutator G, in the manner which will now be described :The brush of the commutator G will move downwardly synchronously with the car with which it cooperates and will be positioned by the mechanism already described so that the arm 7 of the commutator brush will be in contact with the contact plate 10 and will consecutively strike the contact plates 14, 15 and 16, which are in circuit with the car lamps 17 and will rub against the contact plates 29, 26, 30, and 27, which are in circuit with the floor lights 129, 131, 133, and 134 respectively. The arm 7 of the commutator brush will also consecutively strike contact plates 31, 28 and 32, which are respectively connected to the coils or windings 86 of the switches D, E, and F respectively.

After the person on the second floor has depressed the movable contact 181 on the second floor, a portion of the current will pass through the bell 190, as described, if the switch lever 185 is closed, and another portion of the current will pass from said movable contact through the contact 179 and conductor 198 to and through the coil or vinding 85 of switch F and thence to the negative conductor 107, through the adjacent conductor 162, contact 91, 88, and 100, conductor 177 and conductor 176, thereby energizing the winding 85, which will draw into it the adjacent core 83 and will move the bar 82 with the contacts carried thereby, to the position shown in Fig. 9. The momentum of the bar 82 carries it to a position in which the contact 88 will be carried beyond the contacts 9% and 100, thereby breaking the circuit in which the adjacent winding 85 is located. At the same time the contacts 89, 90, 91, 92 and 93 will be brought against the contacts 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, and against the contacts 101, 102, 103, 101 and 105 respectively.

The contact plates which will be placed successively in circuit by the brush arm 7 with the contact plate 10 of the commutator G, will be the contact plates, 16, 27, 30 and 32. The first plate to be struck will be the contact plate 30, at which time the current will pass from feed wire 106 through conductor 111, switch contact plate 112, contact 113, contact plate 11%, conductor 115, contact plate 10, arm 7 of the commutator brush, contact plate 30, conductor 15%, contacts 97, 91 and 103 of switch F, conductor 1 11, lamp 133, and conductors 125 and 117 to the negative conductor 107. The lamp 133 will thus be illuminated, thereby notifying any one on the second floor that the elevator in the adjacent shaft is nearing that floor on a downward trip. The arm 7 of the commutator brush will then strike the contact plate 27 of the commutator G and the current will pass from the feed contact plate 10 by the arm 7 of the brush, to the contact plate 27, and thence to the negative feed wire 107 by conductor 142, floor signal 13a and conductors 126 and 117. The lamp on the first floor will thus be illuminated, thereby indicating the approach of the elevator. It will be noted that the contact plates representing adjacent floor sig nals overlap, so that the commutator brush will rest at the same time upon two adjacent plates, as for example, the plates 27 and 30. By this arrangement of the floor signal contact plates, the approach of the car is indicated two floors in advance.

After the arm 7 of the commutator brush in its downward movement has passed off from the contact plate 30, it will strike the contact plate 32, which is connected to the winding 86 of switch F. At this time the current will pass in the manner already described, from the positive feed conductor 19 connected therewith to its initial position,

in which the contact 88 will again be in contact with contacts 9% and 100, while all of the other contacts carried by the bar 82 of switch I will be disengaged from the 5 contact with which they cooperate.

From the foregoing it will be understood that a person at any of the floors intermediate of the first and fifth may, by operating the proper floor switch on that floor,

signal to the car and the first car arriving at that floor and moving in the proper direction, will have its approach indicated by the proper floor signal. In case that the i car which has been signaled is loaded or the operator does not desire to stop at the floor from which the signal was sent, he may force the contact 113 of the car switch out of engagement with the contact plates 112 and 11d thereby breaking the circuit so which includes feed contact plate, 10, of

the commutator which cooperates with that particular car. The commutator being deprived of current no further signals will i.-. be received or sent by that car until the operator again establishes connection between the contacts 112, 113, 11 1. In the meantime, the next car passing in the same direction will receive the signals and the F floor signals adjacent to the said next car Will cooperate therewith.

The switches A, B, C, I) and E each operate in the same manner as has been described with reference to the switch F. The switches A, B- and C cooperate with the arm 8 of the commutator G, and with the contact plates which are struck by the said arm on its upward movement. In like manner, the switches A, B and C cooperate with the arm 8 of the commutator H when said arm moves upwardly. The switches D, E and F cooperate with the arms 7 of the commutators G and H and with the contact plates which are struck by said arms upon the downward movement of the commutator brushes.

WVhile I have illustrated and described my invention as applied to an elevator service in which two cars are employed, the invention may be applied in a like manner to a service having any number of cars.

My invention is not limited to the structure illustrated and described, as many modifications of it, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without de- .565 parting from its spirit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a signaling apparatus for elevators, a car signal, a floor signal, circuits respec- 7O tively for said signals, a floor switch, a commutator having contact plates in circuit respectively with the said signals and having a brush movable synchronously with the elevator car and cooperating with said contact F5 plates, a reciprocating bar, means carried by said bar for making and breaking the signal circuits respectively when the bar is reciprocated, means in circuit with the floor switch for moving the bar in one direction, 8. means in circuit with the commutator for moving the bar in the opposite direction, and a single source of current generation for supplying the floor switch and signal circuits. 8.5

2. In a signaling apparatus for elevators, a car signal, a floor signal, circuits respectively for said signals, a floor switch, a commutator having contact plates and a brush cooperating therewith and movable synchronously with the car, a reciprocating bar, two electromagnetic devices for respectively moving the bar in opposite directions, the commutator having three sets of contact plates one set being in circuit with the car signal, another set being in circuit with the floor signal, and the other set being in circuit with one of said electromagnetic devices, the other electromagnetic device being in circuit with the floor switch, means carried by the bar for making and breaking the signal circuits, and a single source of current generation for supplying the floor switch and signal circuits.

3. In a signaling apparatus forelevators, a car signal, a floor signal, a floor switch, a commutator having three contact plates and a brush cooperating with said plates and movable synchronously with the elevator car, a reciprocating bar, two solenoids for moving the bar in opposite directions, a circuit connecting one solenoid with one of said contact plates, two circuits connecting the two signals being in circuit respectively with the other two contact plates, a circuit connecting the other solenoid being in circuit with the floor switch, means for alternately making and breaking each of the solenoid and signal circuits when the bar is reciprocated, and a single source of current generation for supplying the floor switch and signal circuits.

a. In a signaling apparatus for elevators, a floor signal, a floor switch, a commutator having a contact plate in circuit with the floor signal and having a brush movable synchronously with the elevator car and cooperating with said contact plate, a reciprocative bar, means carried by the bar for controlling the signal circuit, means in circuit 130 with the floor switch for moving said bar in one direction, means in circuit with the commutator for moving the bar in the opposite direction, and a single source of current generation for supplying the floor switch and signal circuits.

5. In a signaling mechanism for elevators, a car signal, a floor switch, a commutator having a contact plate in circuit with the car signal and having a brush movable synchronously with the elevator car and 00- operating with said contact plate, a recipro cative bar, means carried by the bar for controlling the car signal circuit, means in cir- HENRY A. HUMPHREY.

\Vitnesses:

E. B. HoUsE, WARREN D. HOUSE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

